Food and Recipes Desserts Ice Cream Sea Salt Ice Cream 5.0 (1) Add your rating & review If you like salty-sweet desserts, this ice cream will soon be your favorite. By Southern Living Test Kitchen Southern Living Test Kitchen The Southern Living Test Kitchen has been publishing recipes since 1970, four years after the first issue of Southern Living Magazine appeared on newsstands. The Southern Living Test Kitchen team includes a team of professionals with deep expertise in recipe development, from pastry chefs and grilling experts to nutritionists and dietitians. Together, the team tests and retests, produces, styles, and photographs thousands of recipes each year in the state-of-the-art test kitchen facility located in Birmingham, Alabama. Southern Living's editorial guidelines Updated on September 29, 2023 Rate PRINT Share Trending Videos Close this video player Photo: Photograher: Greg DuPree Prop Stylist: Mary Clayton Carl Food Stylist: Margaret Dickey Active Time: 20 mins Total Time: 6 hrs 50 mins Servings: 8 If you are a fan of all things sweet-and-salty, then you are going to love this Sea Salt Ice Cream recipe. With a taste similar to salted vanilla, this will give your old stand-by flavors a run for their money. Traditional ice cream flavors, such as peach, chocolate, or strawberry, definitely have a place on a backyard cookout menu, but make a batch of this homemade ice cream the next time you want something new, and you'll never look at those ho-hum flavors again. A cup of brown sugar adds some delicious caramel undertones. Don't skimp on the ingredients—you need to use whole milk instead of skim or two percent, and heavy whipping cream instead of half-and-half for the creamiest custard. Serve this ice cream alone or topped with shaved chocolate or crushed pretzels for a truly crave-worthy dessert. What Makes Sea Salt Ice Cream So Good? If you love chocolate-covered pretzels or salted caramel, you know how delicious that balance of salty and sweet can be. Sea salt ice cream acts in the same way—salt contrasts the sweet creaminess of the vanilla ice cream, enhancing the flavor of the dessert and making it almost irresistible. Why do our brains react so strongly to the combination of the two? Sugar is a quick energy source for our bodies that also happens to cause a release of dopamine when it's ingested. Salt is necessary to our cell function, and our bodies crave it regularly. Together, eating the two can satisfy our cravings in a biological way. Ingredients for Sea Salt Ice Cream Six ingredients is all it takes to make a batch of this homemade ice cream, and you probably have most (or all) of them already on hand. You'll need: Egg yolks: Enrich the custard base, thickening it before churning.Light brown sugar: Sweetens the mix with a hint of molasses flavor and caramel undertones that work well with the sea salt. Can be substituted with granulated sugar if needed.Whole milk and heavy cream: The base of the ice cream; the balance of the two makes for a lusciously creamy, yet light, frozen dessert.Flaky sea salt: Use a high quality sea salt; flakes add a delightful crunch to the ice cream.Vanilla extract: Enhances the flavor of the ice cream. How To Make Sea Salt Ice Cream If you haven't experimented with custard-based ice creams in the past, you'll be pleasantly surprised to find it's a more simple process than you might think. Full instructions are below, but here's a brief recap before you get started: Step 1. Whisk to combine yolks and 1/2 cup brown sugar; set aside. Heat milk, cream, and remaining sugar in a saucepan. Gradually pour hot liquid into egg yolk mixture, whisking constantly. Then return to pan, cooking until thickened enough to coat the back of a spoon. Add salt and vanilla. Chill until cold.Step 2. Process in an ice-cream maker according to manufacturer's instructions. Transfer to an airtight freezer-safe container; freeze until firm, about 4 hours. Sprinkle with additional salt and serve. Tips for the Creamiest Homemade Ice Cream Making a custard-based ice cream can be tricky if it's your first time. Here are a few key tips for the creamiest results: Temper the eggs: Whisk the hot liquid into the egg yolks slowly to keep the eggs from curdling.Keep it smooth: Strain the custard after cooking to avoid any lumps in your final product.Blend if needed: If you accidentally overcook your custard, process in a blender until smooth.Shop smart: Use high-quality ingredients for the best flavor.Indulge: Don't try to lessen the amount of cream—you'll be rewarded for following the recipe with the creamiest texture.Lower the freezing point: Try adding a splash of vodka to your homemade ice cream—the alcohol keeps the ice cream scoopable when frozen. What To Serve With Sea Salt Ice Cream This Sea Salt Ice Cream can be scooped into cones or cups, served alongside chocolate lava cakes, fruit crisps, brownies, and more. Lean into the salty flavor by topping with fudge sauce, caramel sauce, peanut butter sauce, crushed nuts, candy, chocolate shavings, pretzels, or any of your favorite ice cream toppings. How To Store Sea Salt Ice Cream Store ice cream in an airtight container in the freezer for up to one month. Place a piece of plastic wrap directly on the surface to help prevent ice crystals from forming. More Homemade Ice Cream Recipes You'll Love Don't stop here. If you're new to making ice cream, you're just getting started: Strawberry Shortcake Ice Cream Bourbon Ice Cream Homemade Cookies-and-Cream Ice Cream Birthday Cake Ice Cream Pistachio Ice Cream Banana Ice Cream Fresh Peach Ice Cream Editorial contributions by Katie Rosenhouse. Ingredients 6 large egg yolks 1 cup packed light brown sugar, divided 1 1/2 cups whole milk 1 1/2 cups heavy whipping cream 1 1/2 tsp. flaky sea salt, plus more for serving 1 tsp. vanilla extract Directions Make custard: Whisk together egg yolks and 1/2 cup of the brown sugar in a medium bowl; set aside. Stir together milk, whipping cream, and remaining 1/2 cup brown sugar in a medium saucepan until smooth. Cook over medium, stirring occasionally, until mixture is hot but not boiling, about 4 minutes. Gradually pour 1 cup hot milk mixture into egg yolk mixture, whisking constantly. Gradually whisk egg yolk mixture into remaining hot milk mixture in saucepan. Cook over medium, stirring constantly, until mixture coats back of a spoon, about 4 minutes. Remove from heat; stir in salt and vanilla. Chill custard: Pour mixture into a large bowl; place bowl inside a larger bowl filled with ice water, and let mixture cool to room temperature, about 30 minutes. Transfer mixture in bowl to refrigerator; chill until cold, about 2 hours. Freeze ice cream: Pour chilled mixture into frozen freezer bowl of a 4-quart electric ice-cream maker, and proceed according to manufacturer's instructions. (Instructions and times may vary.) Transfer to an airtight freezer-safe container; freeze until firm, about 4 hours. Sprinkle with additional salt, and serve. Frequently Asked Questions What types of salt can I use for sea salt ice cream? This is the time to break out any fancy salts in the back of your cabinet. Himalayan pink salt, flavored salts, or any flaky sea salts are perfect for featuring in sea salt ice cream. What other flavors can I add to sea salt ice cream? If you're looking to enhance the flavor of this ice cream even more, try swapping the vanilla extract for vanilla bean paste (for little flecks of vanilla throughout) or a splash of rum, folding in toffee bits, shaved chocolate or pretzels, or swirling in homemade caramel before freezing. Should I chill my ice cream base overnight before processing? If you have the time, ice cream base subtly improves in flavor when left to chill overnight before churning. Rate It Print Additional reporting by Katie Rosenhouse Katie Rosenhouse Follow us Katie Rosenhouse is a pastry chef and food writer with over 15 years of experience in the culinary arts. She's worked as a pastry chef in some of the finest restaurants in New York City, as a culinary instructor, and as a recipe developer. learn more